Emergency Care

For life-threatening situations*, dial one of the MIT Medical emergency numbers below if you are on the MIT or Lexington campus. Ambulance service will be provided to MIT Medical or a nearby acute care hospital, depending on the situation.

Cambridge Campus: Dial 100 from any phone
Lexington Campus: Dial 3333 from any phone
Off Campus: Dial 911 from any phone

Examples of life-threatening emergencies include:

• Alcohol poisoning
• Chest pain
• Shock
• Poisonings
• Unconsciousness
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Serious injuries or burns

Urgent Care
MIT Medical is open to the MIT community 24 hours a day, every day, for urgent care for conditions such as high fever, ear aches, sprains, lacerations, and sports injuries. Please call 617-253-1311 if you're not sure if you should come in - we always have a clinician on duty to answer questions.

*MIT Medical will apply "The Prudent Layperson Standard" in reviewing claims for emergency room (ER) services. A prudent layperson refers to a clear-thinking adult with an average knowledge of health and medicine. The standard for ER claims is defined as emergency care for medical, maternity, or psychiatric emergencies that leads a prudent layperson to believe that a serious medical condition exists, or that the absence of medical attention will result in a threat to the person's life, limb, or sight. In other words, the person believes his or her health or life is in danger, and emergency medical intervention is needed.

In contrast, urgent care is a medically necessary treatment for illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately. An urgent care illness or injury requires professional attention and treatment within 24 hours to avoid further complications.